Report: Boeing set to gain EU approval for $4.7B Spirit AeroSystems deal 

Boeing is expected to win European Union approval for its $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, according to a Reuters report citing people familiar with the matter. The European Commission is scheduled to decide by October 14, and clearance is likely to come with conditions requiring Boeing to sell some of Spirit’s operations that serve Airbus and other customers. 

The move marks a key step toward bringing Spirit AeroSystems back under Boeing’s control after two decades apart. The US planemaker spun off the Wichita-based supplier in 2005 to cut costs, but Spirit has struggled as an independent company. Boeing announced the buyback plan in July 2024, saying tighter control over its supply chain would help improve quality and stabilize production. 

To address competition concerns, Boeing and Spirit have already proposed selling several Spirit units tied to Airbus programs. These include facilities in Prestwick, Scotland, and Subang, Malaysia, as well as non-Airbus work in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Airbus has separately agreed to take over Spirit’s loss-making operations that support its A220 and A350 aircraft, effectively splitting the supplier’s work between the two major manufacturers. 

The deal has already received approval from Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority, which cleared it in August 2025 without conditions. The EU’s pending decision is viewed as the final major regulatory hurdle. US authorities are still reviewing the transaction but are not expected to block it, given that both companies have outlined a plan to preserve fair access for other aircraft makers. 

Spirit AeroSystems builds major structures for commercial and military aircraft, including 737 fuselages, pylons, and wing components. The company’s financial health has been a growing concern for Boeing, particularly after a series of production and quality issues disrupted 737 MAX deliveries earlier this year. Boeing executives have said reintegrating Spirit will simplify oversight and eliminate costly coordination between two companies that depend on each other. 

The acquisition also comes amid Boeing’s broader efforts to recover from a prolonged manufacturing and safety crisis. Following a January 2025 door plug blowout on a 737 MAX 9, the company has been under heavy regulatory scrutiny and is under pressure to demonstrate tighter control over suppliers and assembly lines. 

Earlier in 2025, Boeing gave the European Commission a list of commitments to ease concerns about the Spirit takeover. The company pledged that Airbus and other planemakers would still have fair access to parts and support after the merger. Regulators asked for more details in September, extending their review before reaching a final decision. 

The Spirit acquisition is viewed as critical to Boeing’s turnaround strategy. Spirit manufactures about 70% of the 737’s structure and is one of Boeing’s largest suppliers by revenue. Bringing Spirit in-house could reduce delivery bottlenecks, allow closer inspection of manufacturing processes, and improve profit margins once integration costs are absorbed. 

Airbus, for its part, will gain greater control of production tied to its A220 program, which has been a source of supply headaches. By absorbing the Spirit facilities linked to its jets, Airbus will be able to stabilize output and reduce dependence on a struggling supplier. 

If cleared by the EU, Boeing would still need to close the sale of the Airbus-related operations before the full merger can take effect. Both Boeing and Spirit have declined public comment while the review remains active. 

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